Striping tool



Sept. 4, 1934. J. A. PAAs'cHE STRIPING Tool.

Filed Feb. l, 1950 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 entren[STATES .amer Erice STRI'PING T0011 Jens A. Paasche7 `Vifilmette7 lill.

Application February 1, 1930 Serial No. 425,111

15..Claims. (C1.91-62.6)

The .invention vrelates toga striping tool iorapmodifications and yalternative .CODstructionsy nI plying color lines or stripesto the surface of van have shown in the dra-wing and williherein'dearticle and Vhas asits general ,aimthegprovision scribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but of a new and ,improvedgtool of this character it is to be understoodthatlfdo notgthereby intend which is simple and eilcient in operation, is light to A,limit the invention to the .specinc form dis- 6 0; in lvifeight to facilitate handling, and may be closed, but intend to cover all modicationsand easily disassembled to ypermit inspection, cleanalternative.constructions falling within `thespirit ing, repairvor replacement'of parts. and scope lof the invention -as expressedin'vthe Another lobject of Ithe invention is to provide a appended claims. Y v

18A tool .of Ythis characteriby which continuous c olor Preferably the toolisin thefforrnof .anelon- 65; bands, stripes or vlines .may beapplied to vertical gated, generally cylindrical barrel of such size, or horizontal surfacesfor Vto vsurfaces lying in inshape and balance as -to permit anf-operatorto termediate .angular lplanes .with equal vease and grasp and use thetool in substantially the :same facility. manner as -a pencil is'held. Thefbarreli-sf-sep.-

l5 A further Objectis to proyidaaolor applying arable intermediate its ends toformqaffrontse. 70; means which `may be readily adjusted-to vary tion 11 and a rear or handlesection 12,Which the width of the line produced. sections preferably lhave-screw .threaded engage- Still another object is to vprovide va novel and ment,'as shownat 13. y quickly adjustable means for ,controlling `the The front section 11 houses-orsupports--the flow or feed of color. mechanism vby which the color is applied'andfthe 7.75'

Another object resides in the provision of flow thereof controlled,andinitsfpreferred form means for accurately producing a border stripe (see'Fig. 2) comprisesa metalliccastingor-turnor line at a predetermined distance from vthe edge ing which tapers gently from ay substantiallylarge of a surface, which means is-capable of universal rear end to a relatively 'small frontend. YThe .5 adjustment. front end -of the section 1-1is-axially bored for 30; Another object is .to-provide-awdevice of this recessed to form a forwardly opening v chamber character in which on Amest occasions .thecolor 14 which may be termed the eolorchamber. Inmay be fed to the color-applying ,tipsbygravitm termediate the ends ofthe -seotionis a laterally and in which the tip is adjustable relative tothe extending boss or nipple 15, preferably formed rest ci the tool .topermit-adesired,perpendicular integrally with the section, whichboss is scr-ew 35:I relationship of the `tiprelative to .the surface to threaded'to `receive a color supply c11p`16,.-shown be striped when .thesurface -is atfanangle to the in -Fig. 2 as being of fa gravitytlowtype. :Open

horizontal. y communication between the Ycolor chamber-,and Other objects and advantages willbecome apthe cup is provided by a conduit-17` from the 3..;1 parent in the following description-and fromvthe outer end of the boss to the color chamber. 90

aCCGmDani/ng drawing,in.which: The construction by v.which-color.flowingfrcmi Figure 1 is an elevational -vie-w-of `a'striping the color chamber is applied to a surfaceiscapatool embodying theinvention. ble of Various-adjustments to'adaptthetool for Fig. 2 is an enlargedaxial section enea Vertical many uses and positions. The -front end of .the

lo plane. section 11, about the margin ofthe bore therein, 95.

Figy is a disassembled or spreaddetailview is smoothly finished and a tubular tip ,f18.(IEigs. showing the tip assembly on ,an ienlargedscale. 2 and 3) fhas `an.outwardly extendingannular Fig. 4 is a detail axial sectioirof the manual flange 19 jnished to Vabut-tl1efrontend.of.the control ymechanism taken 4on `a.transvarse ip lane. Section. A nut or gland-20,.havingfan enlarged 5 is an ,enlargedvtiansversesection taken central aperturedefinedby an inwardly extendloo SLibtlltally 0n the lined-.5 of Fig. 2. l ing annular shoulder .21,A nts-about the tipl Figs. 5 and '7 are axial :sections fOf :.IIIOdS- and has screw threaded vengagement .with .the

foi -sof C0101" IBCSpaSleS- feront section. Thus, the tip may beti'ghtIY .Se-

e e- S'SIl elflafgef'pefpeC-VSView 0f ih@ cured on the front of thefront section and in 5G 'SOC-ppylg pOlt; axial alinement therewith vthrough the engage- 105 Fig. 9 is a dctailyiew sho-Winglamodied-orm mem; 0f the ,Shoulder 21 .0n the nut Ywith the of guide means. Y flange 19 -on-the tip.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged -ragmentany'elevation-of `Internally the tip lis vhollow .to communicate the tool showingthe color feedffadjustment. with the color charnberyl'lv andthe,rontrthereof 05 While the invention issusceptible of :various tapers forwardly to a son'lewhatonstricted 'color 11o aperture located axially in the forward end of the tip. This aperture receives the pointed end of an axially extending needle rod 22 which, under the control of mechanism to be presently described, operates as a needle valve to open or close said aperture.

Externally the portion of the tip immediately adjacent the flange 19 is screw threaded, as at 23, and the extreme forward end 24 thereof is preferably tapered in substantial conformity with the slope of the internal taper. On diametrically opposed sides, however, the end 24 is cut away to form opposed fiat faces 25 which receive a detachable color-applying point 26.

The point 26 in its preferred form is generally tubular and is constructed from a single piece of resilient metal, such as spring steel. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the point comprises a pair of opposed blades 27 of somewhat arcuate crosssection and having forwardly tapering outer surfaces. Each blade is recessed centrally from the rear thereof, as at 28 (Fig. 8), and the adjacent remaining portions on opposite blades are connected by integral cross pieces 29. The cross pieces are substantially parallel and are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the thickness of the tip 18 between the opposed faces 25. This construction permits the point to be slipped over the conical front end of the tip 18 and the'engagement of the cross pieces 29 with the faces 25 resiliently holds the point in place. The forward ends of the blades are similarly rounded and smoothly finished to afford even Contact with the surface to be marked and to insure sharp 35l whereby the width of the applied color stripe may 40" be adjusted. This means comprises a knurled nut or gland 30 having forwardly tapered inner and outer surfaces. The gland is arranged to fit over the blades of the point and has screw threaded engagement with the threads 23 on the tip to draw the tapered inner surface thereof against the tapered outer surfaces of the blades 27. Consequently, movement of the gland relative to the point and tip lvaries the distance between the forward ends ofthe blades and determines the width of the color stripe.

By this construction it becomes possible to adjust the tool for different purposes and uses. Thus, the gland and point adjustment permits variation of the width of the color stripe within certain limits. Moreover, the point may be easily replaced by a wider or narrower one if widths beyond the adjustable range of any one point are required. A further feature resides in the adjustability ofthe point rotatably relative to the tool as a whole. This adjustment is advantageous due to the fact that points of this character operate most successfully` when both blade ends engage the surface to Vbe marked. Consequently, if the surface lies in any other than a horizontal or a vertical plane, and a gravity flow supply cup is used, it becomes necessary to adjust the .point so that the desired engagement thereof with the surface may be effected without disturbing the vertical position essential to the feeding operation of the gravity supply cup. This adjustment is attained merely by loosening the nut 20 whereupon 'the tip 18 and the associated parts may be rotated relative to the rest of the tool to position the point for marking a surface in any plane. Y

The tool embodies another feature of adaptability by providing a means arranged to guide the movement of the tool in striping, which means has universal adjustment for use in any position of the tool. Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, the front section l1 forwardly of the boss l5 is finished to form a smooth annular surface 3l thereon which preferably tapers forwardly. The surface 31 receives a guide collar 32 having an inner surface complementary to the surface 31 on the section 1l. An annular groove 33 in the surface 31 extends substantially 180 thereabout and is engaged by the inner end of a set screw 34 to mount the collar on the surface for limited relative rotation. At one side the collar carries a radially extending boss 35 which has a bore 36 extending therethrough in an axial direction perpendicular to the axis of the collar. The bore 36 receives one leg of an L-shaped guide member 37 having an enlarged head 38 removably secured thereto to prevent accidental removal of the member from the bore. The other end of the guide member is fashioned as a flat lug 39 constituting an engaging member for the guide.

It will be evident that by removing the head 38, the guide member may be removed from the bore and replaced by others of different sizes and shapes. Thus, the proper guide may be selected and readily incorporated in the tool for guiding the tool in any of its different striping operations. If desired, an anti-friction device may be provided on the surface'engaging end of the guide, which device may be interchangeably secured to either side. As shown in Fig. 9, a preferred form comprises an anti-friction roller 39a, formed of hard rubber or the like, having an axial bushing 39b therein. A screwy 39, through the bushing, has threaded engagement with the lug 39 to secure the roller to either side of the lug.

The outer end of the boss 35 is screw threaded to receive a wing nut 40 or the like capable of being screwed substantially into engagement with the portions of the guide member on each side of the bore. Hence, a washer el interposed between the wing nut and the guide member may be forced into a binding engagement with the guide member. This engagement, however, is sufficiently flexible to allow rotation of the guide member in the bore. Suitable means for holding the collar against accidental movement comprises a spring washer 32a interposed between the nut 20 and the adjacent side of the collar 32. This construction is preferred since the washer yieldingly resists rotational movement of the collar and at Vthe same time serves as a locking means for holding the nut 20 on the front section.

Preferably the set screw 34 in the collar is so arranged that it engages the limits of the groove 33 in the surface 31 when the boss 35 on the collar is substantially in the plane of the color cup 16. Consequently, in using a gravity feed cup with the device, the collar may be instantly adjusted to either extreme positie-n and the guide member rotated to permit the guide to be used in any position of the tool.

In use, the guide is generally advantageous when a border stripe, or the like, is to be near the edge of a surface, as for example in i forming the ornamental stripes on mirrors, picture frames, furniture and the like. In such a case, the guide is first set at the predetermined distance of the stripe relative to the edge. Then by placing the lug 39 against-the edge, the tool may be guided over the surface to apply a stripe. The universal adjustment of the guide permits the tool to be drawn in opposite directions if desired without changing the setting of the guide.

Referring to the operating mechanism by which the needle rod 22 is reciprocated to open or close the color aperture in the tip 18, the needle rod is elongated and extends rearwardly of the barrel through the color chamber i4 and an axial bore 42 in the front section il. The enlarged rear end of the front section is recessed axially as at 43 and the handle section 12 is hollow thereby constituting an enclosing housing for the operating mechanism. Preferably packing 42l (Fig. 4) held in place by a gland 421, is employed to prevent the flow of color from the color chamber 14 through the bore 42.

The operating mechanism generally comprises a bearing member 44 in the nature of a support for a sliding plunger device 45 which carries chuck nechanism 46 arranged releasably to engage the needle rod 22. Manually operable means actuate the plunger device to move the needle rod to aperture opening position and resilient means return the rod to close the aperture.

Figs. 2 and 4 best illustrate the operating mechanism. The bearing member 44 comprises a disk 47 having peripheral screw threads thereon to engage a continuation of the threads 13 in. the section l1 by which the handle section l2 is mounted thereon. The disk 4'? has an axial bore 48 therein which is further defined by .a rearwardly extending tubular flange 49.

The axial bore 48 slidingly receives the plunger device 45 which is in the form of a cylindrical plug 5S having an axial bore 5l through which the needle rod 22 extends. The plug is somewhat longer than the bearing device tov extend therefrom at each end, and the rear end of the plug is reduced in size to provide a shoulder 52 thereon Within the tubular flange 49. A helically coiled spring 53 encircles the reduced portion of the plug and bears at one end against the shoulder 52. The other end oi the spring bears against a part of the 'this instance by a cap 54 screw threaded into the end of the flange 49 and apertured to allow the reduced end of the plug to slide therethrough.

The end of the reduced portion of the plug is threaded to engage the end of the chuck mechanism 46 (see 1Eig. 2) which comprises an arrangement capable of engaging and holding the needle rod 22 iirmly for movement therewith and of being instantly and easily disengageable therefrom or adjustable relative thereto. In the present embodiment the chuck mechanism comprises two casing sections 55 and 56 having registering axially extending needle rod receiving bores 5'? therein. In one of the sections (herein section 55) the bore is enlarged to form a tapering recess 58 about the needle rod in which one or more small balls 59 are positioned. Consequently, when the needle rod and chuck are in proper relation the taper of the chuck forces the balls into tight holding engagement with the rod, which engagement may be readily released by a simple movement of the two parts relatively to displace'the balls from the tapered portion of the recess. In consequence, assembly of the parts so that the needle rod closes the color aperture accurately and positively becomes' a simple matter which may be easily performed even by an unskilled person.

Figs. 2, 4 and l0 illustrate the means by which stationary tubular sleeve formed inv an operator manually controls the opening of the color aperture. A longitudinally extending elongated slot 60 is formed in the front'section l1 to open into the recess 43 substantially adjacent the assembled position 0f thev front end of the plunger device 45. A lever 61 extends through the slot and the inner position thereof is preferably in the nature of an arcuate plungerengaging plate 62 having an elongated slot'63 therein through which the needle rod may extend. The inner end of the plate bears against a shoulder 64 on the wall of the recess, which engagement is normally maintained by the spring pressed plunger bearing against the plate adjacent the needle rod. The free outer end of the -lever carries a suitable finger piece 65 which facilitates actuation of the lever. Movement of the lever by the operator slides the plunger device rearwardly against the tension of the spring 53 and, through the engagement of the chuck 46 with 'the needle rod 22, moves the needle rod rearwardly to openV the color aperture in the tip. Subsequent release of the `lever allows the spring to function tok close the color aperture and return the parts to the original position.

The device embodies a simple means, operable in connection with the lever 6l, for adjusting and regulating the amount of color which may llow from the tool by controlling the extent to which the color aperture may be opened. Thus (see Figs. l, 2, 4 and particularly 1G) a rotatable sleeve 66 is mounted on the front section 1l irly overlying relation to the rear portion of the lever slot 6i) therein. Preferably the sleeve is a split ring having a resilient engagement with a small annular groove 67 to prevent movement thereof longitudinally of the tool as well as to yieldingly. resist rotational movement. The width of the' sleeve adjacent one side of .the split therein is relatively narrow vas compared with the Width thereof adjacent the other side of the split and the width increases evenly from the narrow to the wide portion. Hence, lby rotatively adjusting the sleeve, more or less of the lever slot 60 may be exposed. The sleeve, therefore, constitutes a stop capable of lexceedingly nue adjustment t0 limit the extent of opening movement of the lever 6l and consequently of Ithe needle rod relative to the color aperture. This permits the operator to determine accurately the properratiov of ow of color ofV any constituency. If desired, the sleeve may be so fashioned that the widest portion thereof may engage the lever when the lever is in its'closed position, thereby preventing accidental flow of color when the tool is not in use.

In Fig. 2 the device is equipped with a color cup or receptacle 16 from which color feeds by gravity. It is preferred, therefore, that the boss 15, to which the cup is attached, extends rearwardly at an angle from the front section in order to position the cup vertically when the tool is in use. This position of the cup is further advantageous in that the cup is relatively remote from the point thereby permitting the operator a clear view of the work being done. Thel colorI cupmay be provided with a detachable cover or cap 16a through which the supply `of color4 may be replenished.

It is contemplated -that in certain instances,`V

as in the case of the application of-color of a thick viscous nature, or in striping overheadsurfaces which require the color to be fed upwardly, it may be desirable to provide a force feed. The modified forms of color cupsv shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are suitable. Fig.. 6 shows 1a cup utilizing spring pressure in which the body of the cup 68 is substantially the same as the gravity cup 16. The cover of the spring pressure cup, as indicated at 69, however, has an axially extending tubular boss '70 through which a rod 71 projects into the cup. 'Ihe inner end of the rod carries a plunger arrangement 72, similar to -a piston, and a spring 73 bearing between the plunger and the cover exerts a pressure forcing `the plunger away from the cover into the cup.

The form of cup 74 shown in Fig. '7 is adapted for use where a supply of air under pressure is available. This modification differs from the gravity cup 16 and cover 16a only in that the cover is provided with a fitting 75 to which a iiexible conduit 76, from a suitable source of compressed air, may be attached.

From ythe foregoing it will be apparent that a striping tool has been provided which is simple in construction and in which the parts may be completely and easily disassembled for cleaning or repairs. Moreover, the tool embodies features of adjustment by which the tool may be instantly adapted for various kinds of work, for operation upon surfaces of peculiar formations, shapes and angles, and for applying different vtypes of colors to horizontal, vertical or overhead surfaces.

I claim as my invention:

1. In av striping tool, the combination of a iinger piece movable to control the operation of the tool, and a regulating sleeve of graduated width movable into abutmen-t with said finger piece.

2. A striping ytool comprising, in combination, a device for applying color to a surface, a color reservoir supplying color to said device, manually operable means for controlling the iiow of color to said device, and means for adjusting the operative movement of said manual control comprising a rotative collar mounted on said device adjacent said manual control means, said collar having portions thereon of graduated width movable into the path of said manual control means.

3. A striping tool comprising, in combination, a barrel having color applying means thereon, means for controlling the iow of color therefrom including a member mounted on said barrel, and means for adjustably controlling the movement of said mem-ber comprising a sleeve of various Widths mounted on said barrel adjacent said member for rotative movement relative thereto.

4. In a striping tool, the combination of means for applying a strip-e of color to a surface, means supplying a continuous now of color to said applying means, means for rotatably adjusting said applying means relative to said tool, and a single means for holding the applying means assembled on the tool and for adjusting the applying means to vary the width of the stripe.

5. A striping tool comprising, in combination,

a barrel having a recessed front end, means for supplying color to the recess, an adjustable guide for said tool including a collar rotatably mounted adjacent the front end of said barrel, a tip having a color passageway therethrough, a gland engaging said barrel and said tip to mount said tip on said barrel with said passageway in communication with said recess, resilient means interposed between said gland and said guide collar, a unitary color applying point adapted to receive color fromv the passageway in said tip, and means for detachably mounting said point on said tip.

6. A color applying point for a device of the character described comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel members having surfaceV engaging front ends, and means connecting adjacent lateral edges adjacent the rear ends of said blades to form a substantially tubular unit, said blades being recessed between the connecting means so that said means form spaced parts for engagement with a supporting member.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of means movable to control the operation of the device and a regulating sleeve of graduated width movable into abutment with said means, said sleeve being narrow at one part to allow of uninterrupted movement of said means and at another part being of such width as to prevent movement of said means.

8. In a device of thc character described, the combination of a handle member, a color applying point comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel members having surface engaging outer ends, and means for securing said point on said handle member, said means being adapted to vary the distance between said substantially parallel members.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a handle member, a color applying point comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel members having surface engaging outer ends, and means for securing said point to said handle including a gland adapted to iit over said point and having screw-threaded engagement with said handle member, said parallel members having sloping surfaces engageable by said gland to vary the distance between said members as said gland is screw-threaded onto said handle member.

10. In a striping tool, the combination of a handle member, a color applying means carried by said member, means for supplying color to said color applying means, a guide adapted to engage a part of the surface to be striped, a collar encircling said handle member for supporting said guide to permit adjustment thereof about the longitudinal axis of the handle member, said collar and said handle member having tapered engaging surfaces formed to complement each other to prevent relative movement of said collar and said handle member in one direction, and resilient means engaging said collar and exerting a force normally to hold said collar seated on the tapered surface of the handle member.

11. In a striping tool, the combination of a handle member, a color applying means carried by said member, means for supplying color to said color applying means, a guide adapted to engage a part of the surface to be striped, a collar encircling said handle member for supporting said guide to permit adjustment thereof about the longitudinal axis of the handle member, resilient means engaging said collar yieldingly to resist movement of said collar out of any of its positions of adjustment, and means providing a limiting interengagement between the collar and an underlying part of the handle member for determining the extent of rotative movement of said collar relative to said handle member.

12. A striping tool comprising, in combination, a barrel having a recessed front end, means for supplying color to said recess, a detachable tipV having a passageway therethrough adapted to be mounted on the front end of said barrel with the passageway therein in communication with the recess in the barrel, means for securing said tip to said b-arrel in any position of rotative adjustment relative thereto, a color applying point detachably mounted on said tip, and means for operatively securing said point to said tip, said means being adapted to regulate the width of a stripe produced by said point.

13. A striping tool comprising, in combination, a barrel having a recessed front end, means for supplying color to said recess, a detachable tip having a passageway therethrough adapted to be mounted on the front end of said barrel with the passageway therein in communication with the recess in the barrel, means for securing said tip to said barrel in any position of rotative adjustment relative thereto, a color applying point comprising spaced blades connected together to form a substantially tubular unit adapted to fit over and engage the front end of said tip, and a gland carried by said tip and encircling said point for rigidly securing the point to the tip.

lll. 1n a striping tool, the combination of a barrel having a color conducting passageway therein, a tubular member, means for securing said tubular member to said barrel in communication with said passageway, said means being releasable to permit of relative rotational adjustment between said tubular member and said barrel, color applying means including spaced points adapted properly to form a line or stripe, said color applying means having a resiliently urged frictional engagement with said tubular member, and means for securing said color applying means to said tubular member for non-rotative movement relative thereto.

15. In a striping tool, the combination of a barrel having a color conducting passageway therein, a tubular member adapted to be seated in abutting engagement and substantially coaxial alinement with the end of the barrel, means for frictionally binding said tubular member against the end of said barrel, said means being releasable to permit said tubular member to be rotatably adjusted relative to said barrel, a color applying tip having spaced parts for engagement with opposed portions of the outer end of said tubular member, seats on said tubular member engageable by said parts to prevent relative rotation between said tip and said tubular member, and means for securing said tip rigidly to said tubular member.

JENS A. PAASCHE. 

